A Symphony of Ribbons: Zaira’s Victory, My Doubts, and Our Shared Dream

Standing in the show hall, surrounded by the hum of excitement and the faint scent of grooming powder, time seems to freeze. Then, a sudden shiver runs down my spine. I realize where I am, and for a split second, a wave of guilt hits me. Did I cause her unnecessary stress by bringing her here?

There are hundreds of cats around us. At least ten others in Zaira’s class possess a beauty that rivals her own. In an environment where such microscopic details determine the winner, I ask myself: Why am I even here? What if we return with nothing but exhaustion? People talk about “gaining experience,” but let’s be honest—experience is a concept for humans. What right do I have to drag Zaira on this tiring journey just for that?

Then, I looked at the judge’s table. When I first saw the name Mr. Wojciech-Albert Kurkowski on the list, I did what anyone would do: a quick web search. What I found was both impressive and intimidating. He is a true “hunter of perfection.” I imagined he must have judged—who knows?—maybe a million cats in his lifetime.

I wanted to ask him about his experiences, to tap into that vast ocean of knowledge. But, to be honest, my English wasn’t quite ready for that conversation. So, I did exactly what a cat would do: I watched him from a distance, observing his every move with quiet curiosity.

When I finally worked up the courage for a photo, I think I used more “sign language” and smiles than actual words! He was kind enough not to refuse. However, my poor Zaira had other plans. Stressed by the environment, she decided that my dream of the “perfect pose” would remain just that—a dream. As you can see in the photo above, real life isn’t always Instagram-perfect, but the memory is precious nonetheless.

It brings me back to a promise I made to myself and to you in our Our Purpose story. I refuse to become a restless bee, flitting from flower to flower, trying to collect every cat breed under the sun. That is not who I am. Instead of chasing volume, I am here to increase the frequency of these rare, passion-fueled moments.

But despite the stress and the chaos, when the moment came, Zaira shone. When we talk about excellence in various cat breeds, British Longhair and Shorthair alike, we are searching for that elusive “golden ratio” of temperament and beauty. Zaira delivered this in a way that left me breathless.

First, the ring results confirmed her quality:

• WCF Kitten Junior Ring 7 & 9
• Jubilee Kitten & Junior Ring 7 & 10

But the crescendo was yet to come. Hearing her name announced for Best in Show and Best in Show Opposite Sex brought tears to my eyes. It wasn’t just about the trophy; it was the recognition of her perfection by a master like Mr. Kurkowski. To top it off, receiving the Best Junior 3 and the prestigious Best Variety award was the ultimate confirmation that our breeding program is on the right path.

People often ask me what makes a show cat different from a standard British Shorthair house cat. The truth? At home, Zaira is just as playful, silly, and loving as any pet. But under the lights, she carries the noble heritage of the British Longhair cat family and the Shorthair ideals with such grace.

These awards belong to Zaira, but the joy belongs to all of us at OzmenCrewCats. It is a gentle reminder that when you breed with ethics and passion—even through the moments of self-doubt and language barriers—the results speak for themselves.

Transparency is at the heart of ethical breeding. You don’t have to take my word for it; you can verify Zaira’s official achievements and view the full show report directly on the World Cat Federation (WCF) website.